Method of and machine for separating tile from multiple tile units



D. A. CANNON 1,996,275

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR SEPARATING TILE FROM MULTIPLE TILE UNITS April 2, 1935. v

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1933v p 2, 1935. D. A. CANNON 1,996,275

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR SEPARATING TILE FROM MULTIPLE TILE UNITS Filed Nov. 13, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a) INVENTOR Cannon Qggmm ATTORNEY April 2, 1935, D. A. CANNON 1,996,275

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR SEPARATING'TILE FROM MULTIPLE TILE UNITS Filed Nov. 13, 1933 a Sheets-Sheet 3' INVENTOR 11A. (760M201 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 2, 1935 METHODJOF ANDY MACH-INE FOR SEPARAT- INGTITIIJE FROMMUI1TIPLE TILE UNITS i Dana- A; Cannon, Sacramento, Calif. Application November-.13, 1933,'Serial No. 697,8 14

Id-Claims."-

This invention relatesflto tileaseparating machines for separating thecscoredujoints-ofza mule tipletile vunit inz'whicha number at ltile'have' been initially formed or molded :innedgecto edge relaa 6 tionzl'and l. preferably. provided. with yscoring; along the joined. edges;v and; V which tile are subsequently fired in such; unitary I re-: lation. In order. to: separate-(thew individual tile from this -multiple Htile; unit for use it'is necessary that'the'unit bedisjointedalalong the scored edges thereof. This has ordinarily been accomplished by hand .labor. r Such" hand labor involves-a considerable amount Iof timeand alsoentails a considerable amount of breakage due to the fact that aablownof ajmallet byh'and may be too heavy or the blow isnot properlysdis. rected. With such hand labor it islalsoznecessary tostrike the multiple tile sunit *along each line of scoring to separate thesindividual tile and this involves further time loss whichvwilli be avoided by the use of my powe'r separatori.

The principal object of my invention is'tosprovide a power separator in which the multipleltile units :are progressivelymoved' past aspoint.a At 25 such -point is provided an impact head; powered to impart rapid blows along lon'e scored-z edge: of themultiple tile: unit; whichblowslarezsuchrthat the rigidity ofeachtile will transmitzthezshock of the impact blows tothe other'scoredredges-z. As arresult all the joints between 'the'ti'les: willu'be evenlyand q uickl-y sheared leaving-ithetile ready for use. The operation-cambe rapidlysand ef-; fectively'carried out and: the :danger/ of breakage ofthe tile substantially 'avoided;

A further object :of my-inventi'on istotprovide-a machine which is completely portableiand iwhich may be" readily moved from: kiln 2 to '.kiln;: The power tile separating machine: is placedxdi'rectly in the kiln and therefore obviates unnecessary handling of the tile units which are :to bessepae:

rated."

A-' further object of the invention is to produce a simple-and inexpensive device and yet (one which will be exceedingly effective' for the purpose'for-which it is designed;

These objects I accomplish by meansof such structure-and relative arrangement or" parts as will fully appear by a perusal of: the following specification and claims. 7 In the drawings-similar:characterswffreference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

V Figure 1is-a side-eleVation of: theipower tile separator;

Figure 2 is a topplan illustrating themachin'e in operating; position and the position of the. unseparated multiple tile units advancing :GDI-the machine and theseparated tile'moving away-from the-machine. n

Figure p3 is a transverse section v takeiribon' the ;5 line-33 of Figure 1 illustrating an unseparated multipletile :unit inthe position of contact-with the impact head. I if Figure 4 is an end view ofamultiple tile unit comprisinggtwo tile;

Figure 5 is. an end View of a :multiple the unit comprising three tile.

Referring now .more particularlywto the chars acters of reference-on the drawings, theunumeral denotes a rectangular table frame upon which are. mountedwheels 2; one pair of, the wheels having the axle turnably secured to the ;center oft the frame. I by means of the "kingpin land bracket-"i.-v I p The table surface comprises ,-;an endless belt :4 driven overthe.beltrollersfi whose shafts 6:are journaleddnxthe-bearingblocks] at the ends of the.1framel.. The driven endless belt 4 =is-usupr ported: as the rtable. surface by "the slightly concave'freearolls .8whichz'are journaled in the. roller frame!) held;byrbolts 10 to the-top longitudinal frameumembiers H; W

' A" motor :I 2 bolted tonthe lower frame-members (3 drives a belt l4 over the pulley"! 5v on the outer I endiaof ;a;ltransverse shaft ,IB which is: jo'urnaled 30 intheubearing ill. The shaft-t ot one of :the belt rollersz5iisldriven .at a 'relativelywlotw speed from; the: transverse shaft [B "by, suitable chain and gear reduction mechanisms generally :desi

na-tedrilfl;

v Arms; I 9 V extend longitudinally from the ends of ;the :frame I and are provided with: trunnions zllffadaptedtoz receive the serni-circular notch bearingsbf rthe'slarms 2| :which removablytsupr port the lowerxend 0f the endless belt conveyor 40 2 2.- -.The rollersshaft 23 of the-conveyor '22;is provided- With ase sprocket .gearr24 driven by the chaing25 from-.the'sprocket gear 26 of theshaftfi; The; gravity conveyor 28 is providedxwithv the slightlyzconcave free-rolls- 29 and removably supportedat'the'lower-end lbyYJthe same arm and trunnion meanszas the conveyor 22*:herei-nbefore described; a

A longitudinal I shaft 30: journaled in the bearings '31 ontherlowerframe members l3 :and is driven: from the *transverseshaft l6 byhthe. beveled gears .32. Mounted .onathe shaft 30 be'-. tween therbearings 3i isaroll'er cam .33; A flat spring. steel arm: 34 11s; pivoted intermediate it its armszontheshait 35- which ist'supported by; the

bearing blocks 36. This arm 34 extends below the shaft 35 in order to contact the roller cam 33. The arm 34 also extends above the surface of the endless belt 4. An impact head 31 is secured by bolts 38 to the spring steel arm 34 in transverse relation to and above the endless belt 4 and extending thereover, as illustrated in Figure 3. This impact head comprises a wooden head member 31 encircled by an iron band 310. and faced with aleather striking plate 372). l

A helical spring 39 under tension is suspended by eye bolts 40 from the arm 34, at a point above the shaft 35, to one of the longitudinal frame members H. The forward stroke of the arm 34 caused by the tension of the spring 39 is limited by the rubber bumper 4| suitably heldin place by a yoke 41a mounted on the other frame member H. The motion of the arm 34 imparted by the cam 33 against the tension of the spring 39 is restricted by the bumper 42 also mounted on the frame member H between the ends of the arms of the yoke Ma. r

' Longitudinal guide plates 43 are adjustably mounted on the frame I I by use of the coordinating adjustable bracket arms 44. These guide plates 43 are longitudinally positioned in a verti cal plane over and above the edge of the endless belt 4 as desired and are spaced apart on the opposite sides of the impact head 37. The guide plate 43 on the side of the table where the multiple tile units advance to the endless belt 4 is curved as at 43a. The guide plate 43 in the side of the tablewhere the tile moves away from the endless belt 4 is cut at an angle at its bottom edge where it extends over the endless belt conveyor 22 in order to avoid contact with said endless belt. 7

In operation of this power tile separator since the machine is readily portable, it is moved into the kiln where the multiple tile units have been fired. The gravity conveyor 28 is then adjusted by suitable supporting means (not shown) so as to be at an incline down to the endless belt 4.

The driven endless belt conveyor 22 is also adjusted by suitable support means (not shown) so that its discharge end extends out of the door of the kiln and is at any desired height from the ground in order to load the separated tile onto trucks or the like. i The type of kiln in which my tile separating machine is adapted to be used is that character of kiln generally known as the periodic type. The kiln with the multiple tile stacked therein is first fired and then allowed to cool before it is opened and before the workmen enter with the machine to separate the tile as hereinafter described.

With the tile separator thus positioned the operator switches on the electric motor l2 and this causes the endless belt 4 as well as the endless belt conveyor 22 to be put in motion at approximately the same speed by reason of the drive mechanism hereinbefore referred to. With the motor operating, the transverse shaft I3 is rapidly revolved which in turn rapidly revolves the longitudinal shaft 33 by means of the bevel gears 32. The roller cam 33 mounted on the longitudinal shaft 30 revolves with the shaft and with each revolution the roller of the cam strikes the face of the lower end of the flat spring steel arm 34 and pushes it into a position against the tension of the helical spring 39, as illustrated in outline in Figure 3. In this position the upper end of the arm 34 has come into facing contact with the bumper 42 and the spring steel arm has beengiven a spring effect by the cam 33 further forcing against the lower end of the arm 34 after the upper end of the arm 34 has come to rest against the bumper 42. As the cam 33 moves still further in its circular arc the spring steel arm 34 snaps away from contact with the roller cam 33 and the combined force of the spring effect imparted to the arm 34 and the tension of the helical spring 39 gives the impact spring 31 a very high initial speed as well as an exceedingly sharp impact force. This blow is of course brought to a stop by the rubber bumper 4 I.

' The multiple tile units are scored inside and out along the edge of each tile as at S and may be made to comprise two tile, as at 45 in Figure 4; three tile, as at 45a in Figure 5; or otherwise as manufacturing practice may require.

In order to separate the multiple tile unit designated generally as 45, said unit in its unseparated form is taken from the stack in the kiln and placed by hand on the upper end of the gravity conveyor 28, which carries it by gravity down to the endless belt 4 where a workman standing on one side of the table facing the impact head and guide plate 43 takes ahold on each end of the tile and holds it against the guides 43 as it is conveyed past the impact head 31 With one scored edge of the tile held at right angles to the rapidly reciprocating impact head 3'1. As the impact head strikes the multiple tile unit along one such scored edge the impact separates that edge and the rigidity of each tile in the unit is sufficient to withstand the shockof such impact, which shock is then in turn transmitted to the other scorededges of the tile in the unit which immediately shear apart. sition of the. tile moving on the endless belt 4 before and after breaking apart is clearly shown in Figure 2, the separated tile being designated 46.- The face 37b of the impact head 31 is made of leather in orderthat the contact with one edge of a multiple tile unit may be cushioned enough to prevent breakage. even though the impact is rapid and sharp. 7

If it is desired to adjust the effective length of the stroke of the impact head 3! the longitudinal vertical guide plates 43 on each side of the impact head 31 may be moved laterally forward or backward depending on the adjustment desired. In practice a stroke of one-fourth inch effective length is usually sufiicient to cause all the segments to shear apart at their scored edges without injury to the segments proper.

As the tile of the multiple'tile units are separated they are at once carried away by the endless belt 4 and the belt conveyor 22 to the truck being loaded, or the like.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially'fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. That method of separating the individual tile of a multiple tile unit in which the tile have been initially fired together in jointed edge to edge relation, comprising the steps of first advancing a multiple tile unit past a point, and applying rapid impactstrokes to one of the joints The poof the unit as it advances and passes said point until all the tile of the unit have been separated. 2. That method of separating the individual tile of a multiple tile unit in which the tile have been initially fired together in jointed edge to edge relation while in the kiln, comprising the steps of advancing a stream of units past a point in the kiln, applying rapid impact strokes to one of the joints of each unit as it passes such point until all the tile of the multiple tile unit have been separated, and then moving the separated tile away from such point and out of the kiln.

3. That method of separating the individual tile of a multiple tile unit in which the tile have been initially fired together in jointed edge to edge relation, comprising the step of applying to one joint thereof rapid vibratory impact strokes until all the joints have been broken.

4. A mechanism for separating the individual I tile of a multiple tile unit in which the tile have beeninitially fired together in jointed edge to edge relation, comprising a support for the multiple tile. unit, an impact head adjacent the support, yieldable means normally holding the'impact head in one position, and means to-actuate the impact head against the tension of said yieldable port, a cam operable against the arm to impart movement thereto in one direction onlyand yieldable means opposing the cam action whereby with the rotation of the cam the impact head will have imparted thereto rapid impact strokes.

7. A mechanism for separating the individual tile of a multiple tile unit in which the tile have been initially fired together in jointed edge toedge relation, such mechanism including a support for the multiple tile unit, an arm pivoted to one side of said support, an impact head on said arm above the support, means to impart to the arm a rapid back and forth motion comprising a cam to move the arm in onepdirection, a spring acting in the opposite direction, and a stop to limit the stroke of the arm against the spring tension; the cam being arranged tospring the arm after said arm has come to rest against said stop.

8. A mechanism for separatingthe individual tile of a multiple tile unit in which the tile have been initially fired together in jointed edge to edge relation, comprising a support for'the multi ple tile unit, an impact head adjacent the sup,- port, means to impart strokes to the head, and means to position one edge of the multiple tile unit in the path of the stroke of the impact head.

9. A mechanism for separating the individual tile of a multiple tile unit in which the tile have a guide to position one edge of the multiple tile unit in the path of the impact head stroke.

10. A mechanism for separating the individual tile of a multiple tile unit in which the tile have been initially fired together in jointed edge to 1 edge relation, comprising a support for the multiple tile unit, an impact head adjacent the support, means to impartstrokes to the head, and

longitudinal guides adjacent the impact head, and suspended over, the support to position one edge of the multiple tile unit in the path of the impact head stroke.

11. A mechanism for separating the individual tile of a multiple tile unit in which the tile have been initially fired together in jointed edge to edge relation, comprising a support for the multiple tileunit, an impact head adjacent the support, means to impart strokes to the head, longitudinal guides adjacent the impact head and suspended over the support to position one edge of the multiple tile unit in the path of the impact head stroke, and means to adjust such guides in relation to the length of the stroke of the impact head.

12. A portable device for separatingmultiple tile units adapted to be removably positioned in a kiln, comprising a support for the multiple tile units, means mounted in connection with the support to separate the individual tile from each multiple tile unit, a conveyor leading to one end of the support to deliver the multipletile units thereto, and a conveyor leading from the opposite end of the support to carry away .the separated tile.

13. A structure as in claim 12 with means removably mounting said conveyors in 7 connection with the support.

14. A portable device for separating multiple tile units adapted to be removably positioned in a kiln, comprising a support for the multiple tile units, means mounted in connection with the support to separate thev individual tile from tile of a multiple tile unit in which the tile have I been initially fired together in jointed edge to edge relation, comprising the step of applying rapid vibratory impact strokes to said multiple tile unit along one joint-edge thereof.

f '1 6. A mechanism for separating the individual tile of a multiple tile unit in which the tile have -been initially fired together in jointed edge to edge relation, comprising means to support and advancethe unit, and means mounted adjacent the support to impart impactstrokes to the unit along one joint-edge thereof as the unit advances.

DANA A. CANNON. f 

